Hi all, this is a follow-up to an earlier discussion, "How to keep #00 Synchro Compur shutter open for viewing/focusing? (John Elstad, 2002-02-15)" wherein I asked for suggestions on where to find a 4x5 Pacemaker Speed Graphic lens board with a #00 hole. I received many helpful responses and thought I was all set, but I came up completely empty. The places I called included: Midwest Photo Exchange, Stephen Shuart, Equinox Photographic, and Brooklyn Camera.

Anyway, now I'm considering having something fabricated, but I'm not sure what's the better route, creating a #0-to-#00 hole adapter, or creating the entire lens board with the correct size hole. I was thinking that creating a complete lens board would be the better way to go as it would probably be sturdier and more reliable, but then I thought, "Hey, there have got to be a lot of people also looking for #00 lens boards. Maybe I could offset the cost of fabrication by making a bunch of them and selling what I don't need." Since most people needing a #00 hole are probably not using 4x5 Pacemaker lens boards, maybe the adapter would be a more universal, and hence, more popular option.

Anyway, for those of you who are still with me here, what do you think? Would an adapter be useful? How much would it be worth? Is there enough demand for 4x5 Pacemaker lens boards to simply make a bunch of those? Any and all comments would be greatly appreciated.

-- John Elstad (john@720.com), February 18, 2002

Answers

John,

I was in the same situation. I purchased two #00 to #0 adaptors from S.K. Grimes (www.skgrimes.com), and they're perfect! I seem to recall they were about $30 each. Now, if I ever change cameras (again), I know I won't have to hunt for hard-to-find #00 boards.

-- Scott Soper (scottsoper@earthlink.net), February 18, 2002.

With a little ingenuity, you can make your own. Cut a hole in the lens board just a bit larger than the shutter. Purchase a sturdy piece of plastic from a hobby store, and cut a square that fits inside the back of the lensboard, which leaves about a 1/4" border between the plastic and the edge of the lens board. Cut a hole in the plastic that fits the shutter, as if it were the lensboard. Paint the plastic a flat black. Drill four small holes symmetrically near each corner of the plastic, matching with holes in the metal lens board. Paint the plastic a flat black and secure it to the lensboard with four small black nylon bolts. You might have to touch up the bolts on the back of the board with a little of the paint so that they're non-reflective.

Or, blank Pacemaker lens boards come up occassionally on EBay.

-- neil poulsen (neil.fg@att.net), February 18, 2002.

You might try wrapping ordinary solder like a plumber would use around the throat and see if it would take up enough space to "locate" it to center. Solder will crush as it's tightened against and flatten to shape.

-- Jim Galli (jimgalli@lnett.com), February 21, 2002.